Plaster-board-cutting machine.



D. F.- BERNHARDT.

PLASTBR BOARD GUTTING MAGHINB.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1910. 1,062,814, v Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D. F. BERNHARDT. PLASTBR BOARD CUTTING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED AUG. a, 1910. 1,062,814. v n Patented May 27, 1913.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wv@ Moz palati EBay/706071566 D. F. BERNHARDT.

PLASTER BOARD CUTTING MACHINE.

PPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1910.

1,062,814.' Patented May 27, 1913.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' N w Q *W x R I I)\ @ifo/Lung y D. F. BERNHARDT. PLASTER BOARD CUTTINGMACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1910.

1,062,814.y Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

5 Vw@ nto@ WW1/Lewes:

UNITED sTArn s i A'iENT OFFICE. y,

r DAVID F. BERNHARDT, OF NEWBRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UTB. KING &C0.,

F `NEW YORK, .A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

PLASTER-BOARD-CUTTING- MACHINE.

, Patented May 27, 1913.

' Application led August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,274.-

To all ulwm 1' t may concern Be it known that 1', Davm F. Binzmmnnr, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of New Brighton, county ofRichmond, city of New York, and State o-f New York, and whose.post-oiliee address is care of J. B. King & Company, New Brighton, insaid city, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPlaster-Board-Cutting Machines, of which the following is aspeciication.

` The 'object of my invention is to make amachine of this class whichwill be simple in construction, durable and efficient in operation, andwhich will sever plaster-board in any desired length without in any wayinterfering with the continuous movement.- of the board through themachine so that the machine can be operated continuously andindefinitely. This object is accom-- plished by my invention,one-embodiment ofwhich is hereinafter set forth and fur-P ther pointedout in the claims.

For a more particular description of my invention, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in lwhich: Y

Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a plaster-board machine providedwith my improven'ient. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa view taken at right angles to `the views shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andshows theicutting mechanism and its supporting means; Fig. 4. is adiagrammatic view of the electrical connections. Fig. is a sideelevation of a disk onwhich the electrical connections are made. Thisview also shows other details. Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken on theline 6-6, Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 shows aportion of a segmental gear. Figs. 8 and 9 are a plan and sideelevations respectively of a magnetic clamp. Fig. 10 is a sectional viewtaken onthe line 10--10, Fig.; 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 11 is an elevation partially in section of a motor and connectionswith the cutting member for its transverse movement. Fig. 12 is adiagrammatic view of electrical contacts at one end by which theconnection is made or broken.

Throughout ,the Vvarious views of the drawings, similar referencecharacters des-v ignate similar parts. f

My cutting device 1 may be applied to about 50 degrees.

any plaster-board machine and is particularly adapted to a machine 2which formsv The roller 4 is mounted on a suitable axle 5 journaled insuit-able bearings 6, which are carried in any' suitable manner directlyfrom the ioor 7, on which the machine rests or otherwise. The shaft 5also carries a pulley 8 driven by any suitable belt 9, which belt drives.the machine 2. i The .other end cf the shaft 5 is provided with a disk10, which is secured thereto by means of set screws` 11, and so'may beadjusted thereon. This disk 11 is made of some insulating material suchas liber, rubber er some similar substance and carries concentricconductors 12, 13, 14, 15, 1`6 and 17. The oo nducto-rs 14 and 15 areannular and closest to the center .of the shaft 5 and -remain inconstant contact with the brushes 18 and 19 respectively, whichl arecarried on .an arm 20 in a suitable manner, which larm is supported by abracket 21 that rests on the Hoor 7. The bar 12, Ais l.adapted .to comein contact .with a brush 2 2. The bar 13 is adapted to come in contactwith a brush 23,

the bar 16 .with a brush 24, and the bar 17 with a brush 25. The bars12., 13, 16 and 1.7 all have about the same angular length, i. e., Onthe rear of the disk 10, or otherwise, the bar 12 -is .connected withthe ring 14, and the .bar 13 :is connected with the ring 15. The ring 15is .also connected with the bar 16 and the Iring; 14 with the bar 17 Thebrush 23 `is .connected to the brush 25, and the brush 2id to -the brush22. The brush 18 is connected .with one ``pole of the dynamo, say thenegative pole, and .the brush 19 with the .positiue pole, or vice versa.y

From the foregoing, .it is evident .that when the brushes 24 and 25 arein contact with their respective bars 16 land 17, the current' will -owin one direction through the wires connected withthe brushes, and

-direction of fiow of current through the fields, whereby the directionof revolution of the armature is reversed. Anpexamination of Fig. 4 willmake this clear. The

' motor 26 has its armature 27 connected to Wires 28 and 29, which Wiresrun to the brushes 22 and 25 respectively and, of

course, the wire 28 is cross-connected with the brush 24, and the wire29 is cross-connected with the brush 23. The fields 30- of the motor 26are connected directly with thebus-bars 3l and 32 respectively, whichare connected with the brushes 18 and 19 respectively. These bus-bars 31and 32 are also connected by any suitable means, not shown, with thewires 33 and 34 respectively, which run to a motor 35 with a shunt field36.

37 are clamping magnets which are connected directly between the wires28and 29 in a manner, shown. The wires 28 and 29 are also connected by aknock-out switch 38 and a starting switch 39, whichwill be describedbelow. The ordinary rheostat and startin switch for the main circuit areomitte as unnecessary for lthe purpose of illustration, as these are ofthe conventional -form and usedin the conventional manner.

It is to be understood that they are used in the usual manner when theapparatus is in operation.

In F ig. 4 the motor 35 is shownlconnected in the simplest manner. Aswill be pointed 42, which carry a crane 43 in t-he conventional manner.This crane 43 is the principal part of the cutter l and carries cuttingmechanism. It consists of a bottom sill 44, a top chord 45 and uprights46 and 47, as well as an' additional pair ot' uprights 48 that carrysuitable top arms 49 for a purpose that will appear below. The bottomsills 44 are connected by suitable crossings 50, which are shown indotted lines in Fig. l and pedestals 51 extending upwardly from theaxles of the forward wheels 42, and the bottom sills 44 are connected bya frame 52 which carries the cutting mechanism. This frame 52 has abottom member 53,'up`rights 54, and a top track 55 upon which is mounteda truck 56 thatgcarries'the motor 35. 4The motor 35 has ani-armatureshaft 57, at one end of which is fixed a saw 58 which cuts or severs theplaster-board in a manner described below. The uprights 54 have suitableinsulators 59 on which are strung three electricalconductors, 60,61 and62 which are adapted to be engaged by three contacts or plows 63, 64 and65 mounted on a suitable bar 66 and suitably connected through said barto the motor 35, so that as the motor is moved on the track 55 in tamanner described below, it willalways be supplied with electricity andthe speed thereof may be regulated by placing resistance either in thefield or 1n the armature circuits, as may be desired. If it were not forthis regulation, the wire 61, would be done away with and then theelectrical connections Y would be as shown in Fig. 4; The preferable wayis to regulate the speed of the motor 35 by putting resistance in thefield fixed on a second shaft 69 provided with a worm 70 (see. Fig. 11)which worm re'- vo-lves in asuitable casing 7l and drivesa worm gear 72mounted on a suitable shaft 73. The shaft 73 also carries a suitabledrum 74, which is preferably provided with spiral grooves, and to whichthe ends of a cable 75 are attached. This cable 75 runs over suitablepulleys 76 and 77 on each end of the track 55 and suitably mountedtherein and is fixed to the truck 56 which carries the motor 35. By thisconstruction the rotation of the. armature 27 of the inc-tor 26 in onedirection will cause the saw 58 to travel in the corresponding directionand the reverse movement of the armature carries the saw 58 in the otherdirection.

The" apparatus for limiting the movement 'of the saw 58 and truck 56 onthe track 55 and for determining the direction of their movement willnow be describedi A link 7 8 is supported at one end by a lever 79,tulcrumed at its lower end in a bracket 80 and provided at its uppe`end with an adjustable horn 81. The other end of the link 78 issupported by a lever 82 of the first order fulcrumed near its middle ina bracket 83 and pivotallyv connected at its lower end with the link 78.'The upper end of this lever 82 is provided with a suitable contact horn84 the same as the horn `81, except that of the rod 78 against theelectrical contact a fixed contact 90 on the machine 2I when the cutteris at' its .starting point. This contact and its function will bedescribed below more in detail. The bar 89 is electrically connectedwith thek end of the rod 78, and the contact 90 with the contact 88.These horns serve to give a sliding sweep. to the arm allowing a perfectmechanical movement without shock as would be t-he case if a straightrod were employed in lieu of the horn.

i The drum 4 on the shaft is provided atA each end with suitablesegmental gears 91 which are held in place by suit-able cap screws 92,or in any other suitable manner. The length of these segmental gears andtheir position on the drum 4 are substantially as shown in Fig. 5, z'.e., .proportion ate to the side position of the segmental' bars 12, 13,16 and 17. The set screws 11 permit the disks 10 to be set at anydesired angular position on the shaft 5, so that it is easy to set thesegmental gears and-bars in proper relation. The top chord 45 of thecrane 43 carries suitable uprights 93, which are fixed in position inany desired manner andconnected at their upper end by a rack-bar 94,

- which meshes with the segmental gears 91.

The rack-barr94 is preferably composed of two parts, one a metal bar 95and the other arack 96, the two parts being held together by suitablecap screws 97, so that the rack 96 may be adjusted on the bar 95, ifneces-- sary. vhe rack 96 is provided with a downwardly extending catch98 adjacent to the last tooth and adapted .to be engaged by the forwardend of the segmental gears 9.1, so yas to insure a proper meshing o-fthe teeth in the segmental gears and rack. As the drum 4 movescontinuously, the rack-bar 94 is driven intermittently by the segmentalgears 91 and vonly in one direction. It is obvious that the rack 94 isdriven toward the rear of the machine along with the rest of the cuttingapparatus which is carried by a crane y43 bythe wheels 42 o-n the track41. The return movement is provided for by a weight 99 on a cable 100which runs over a suitably supported vpulley 101 to the crane 43 whereit is secured. The crossing. 50 carries a rod 102 with a piston in itsend that` enters a suitable dash-pot 103 suspended from the frame o-fthe machine 2, and preferably trunnioned, sof as to all'ow for anyinequalities. The function of the dash-pot 103 is to cushionthe returnmovement of the crane 43 under the iniuence of the Aweight 99, and toprevent any jarring of the tion 104 on a table 105 to pass betweencertain rollers 106`on the table carried by lthe sill 49 in a mannerwhich will be described angles to this slot so as to permit aprojecbelow Additional rollers 107 are carried by the table and parallelto therollers 106 and separated therefrom by the slot, through whichthesaw 58 passes. An additional slet of rollers 108 are'car'ried betweenthe rollers 107\ and suitably supported from the crane 43 in any desiredmanner, solas not to interfere with the movement of the saw 58 on thecrane 43, and this set of rollers 108 are adapted to coperate vwith therollers 109 on the projection 104 and support the-plasterboard while thesame is being severed by the saw 58. The precise mounting of the rollers106, 107 and 1.08 is immaterial provided that it is suiicient and so nodetailed description` is necessary.A

The rear end of the machine 2 is provided `with a table 105 with aprojection 104 in its front on which suitable rollers 109 are mounted.The correct position of this table 105 is shown Vin Fig. 2. 'In Fig. 1it is 'removed a little from the machine so as not to conceal partsthereof. The table 105 may be constructed of angle metal, as shown, orin any othersuitable manner. In addition to 110 at each side of therollers 109 and long rollers 111 which serve to support the sev-'- eredplaster-board.

Where 1t gets its initial set to the rollers 108 'and 107 and thenceAover the rollers 106.

as shown in Fig. 1, but is at one side or the other. When the saw 58starts its transverse movement, the plaster-board may be heldon the belt3 and rollers by its own weight. However, as thismay not be suiicientand it lis preferable to clamp it in position so that it will be cuttrue and will not shift during the severing operation. The' clamps foref- .Fig. 4 and designated 37. They are shown in detail in Figs. 8, 9and 10. Another set form straddle the 'saw 58 at either limit of itsmovement. These magnets are connected nated generically by t-hecharacter 37a.

The magnets 37 each comprise a casing 113 which is fixed to the upper'chord 45 and at the forward end thereof in any suit-- able manner. Thecasings have levers 114 fulcrumed at 115 in brackets 116 extending.

Meanwhile the saw 58 is not in the center,-

fecting this are shown diagramatically inof clamps differing slightly-in style and the same as the magnets 37 and are desi-grollers 108 it isprovided with short rollers The plaster-board 112 passes on the belt 3 i4from the casing 113 and the rear ends of these levers 114 are connectedby a suitable coil spring 117. The centers of these levers 114 arepivotally connected to cores 118 by means of suitable pins 119. Theselevers 114 pass through suitable guides120 and the forward ends of theselevers are pivotally connected to plungers 121 by suitable pivots 122and the rear ends of these plungers have suitable clamping faces 123which are adapted to take under the belt 3 and over the plaster-board112 and fix the two to.- getl'ier. The magnets 37 are simple solenoidswith a bifurcated core 124 adapted to straddle the saw o8 and press theplastery board on a base 125 on which said solenoids correspond.

rest, and which is suitably slotted to permit the saw 58 to passtherethrough.

In view of the foregoing, the operation of my improved severing devicewill be readily understood. It operates beginning with the position ofthe crane 43 at the forward limit of its movement, and the saw 58 maythen be at either side of the machine. This saw cuts continuously at anydesired speed and always rotates in the same direction. The length ofplaster-board between the two adjacent cuts depends entirely upon`thecircumference of the roller 4 plus thethiclrness of the belt. 3 and thepitch circle of the rack 94 and segmental gear 91 is made to Assumingthe parts to be in position to begin the first operation, it commenceswhen a segment 91 strikes the projection 98 when the bars 12 and 13 havejust begun to have contact with their respective brushes 22 and 23 thuscompleting the circuit through the armature 27 and starting switch 39.The circuit' through the switch 39 is soon broken by the movement of thecrane 43 in the direction of movement of the plaster board but beforethis break occurs, the switch 38 is closed by the spring 87 upon therelease'of the spring 85. As soon as this circuit is established, themagnetic clamps 37 and 37 a act automatically and continue to act untilthe circuit is broken at the disk 10. The rack 94 forces the crane 43 tomove rearwardly simultanenously with the 'transverse movement of the saw58 on its truck 56 which runs on the track 4,5 and continues to rununtil the sprlng 85 engages the horn 81 or the ho-rn 84, as the case4may be,

and opens the crcuittln-ough the switch 38 at the contact 88.

IVhichever horn the spring 85 engages, the link 78, which forms acontact with the projection '88 as soon as the spring 85 gets away fromthe horn with.

gaged by their respective brushes 22 and 23, y

and then the rack'94- ceases to be engaged by the segmental gear 91. Thecable 100 then acts because of the weight 99 and against the resistanceof the dash-pot. 103 and draws the crane 43 and the parts remainingtherewith back to the initial position, except that thesaw and itsattendant mechanism is on the opposite side of the machine. The magneticclamps release as soon as the bars 12 and 13 escape from theirrespective brushes. The parts of the cutter then remain at rest and thesevered board is shoved forward over the, various rollers and isgreat-ly assisted in this movement by always being o-n some supportingrollers of the table 105 and the rollers 106 which in 'a sense overlapbecause of the projection 104 above described. There is no gap ofvarying length where the plasterboard is unsupported as there would be,iffthere were no projection 104. When the hars' 16 and 17 get under thebrushes 23 and 2 4, the circuit is again complete through the armature27, above described but in the opposite direction, and the switch 39 hasbeen closed by the returnI movement of the crane 43. The switch 38 isopen. rEhe reverse movement of thearmature 27 of t-he motor 26 reversesthe direction of movement of the truck 56 that supports the saw 58 andcauses the same to return to its initial position, when the Contact at88 is brokenV as before, and the `movement of the truck 56 ceasesimmediately. lThere can be no further movement due to in'ertiabecausethe Worm gear 72 cannot transmit power to drive the shaft 69 through theworm 70. The magnetic clamps 37 and 37a act the same as before. When thecut is finished and the magnet-ic clamps have released theplaster-board, the crane 43 and the parts carried thereby are returnedto the initial and forward position by the cable 100 in the manner abovedescribed. The sequence of operations just above described, is repeatedindefinitely as long as the machine is in operation, and it isobviousthat the transverse movement of the saw is accompanied by alongitudinal movement, so that the saw cuts true across the boardwithout in any way disturbing the operation of the machine orinterrupting the same.

While I have shown and, described one embodiment of my invention, it isobvious that it is not restricted thereto, but` is broad enough to coverall structures thatl come within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a shaft, a disk with electricalcontacts mounted on said disk, plaster-board supporting belt, a shaft,which also carries said disk, and a roller on said shaft, a cranemounted for movement in the'direction of the belt and in the oppositedirection, means for mounting said crane, brushes and means forstqiporting the-same so they will engage saidcontacts on said disk, asaw, an electric motor and means for driving the same,

means for supporting said motor so .that Athe same may run transverselyof said crane.

. said motor being shifted and controlled by portin 1 5- said brushesand contacts to cause the saw to sever plaster-board during the movementof the crane in the same direction as the ment of the belt Whilecarrying the plasterboard or in the opposite direction, racks carried bysaid crane adapted to engage said segmental gears, 'said contacts andbrushes being so related that While the gears are intermeshing some ofthe brushesand contacts are in' engagement, a saw, a motor andmeansconnecting the same with the supporting mechanism of thesaw andelectrical switches and contacts and conductors so arranged and disposedthat said saw Will move transversely of the crane wliile the gears arein contact and not otherwise, so that the said saw cutswithout-interfering with the forward movement of the plasterboard. o.

3. In a machine of the class described, a fixed frame carrying acontact, a shaft, a disk thereon carrying contacts, means for supportingbrushes which are adapted to engage said disk contacts, a crane andmeans for supporting the same, segmental gears y and means forsupporting the same, racks on said crane adapted to engage said gearswhereby the said crane is 'moved for. a,short distance in one direction,means for moving said crane in the other direction, a sawcarried by saidcrane and adapted to move transversely thereof, a 'motor, a. windlasshaving a Worm gear and a Worm connected to said motor, cables connectingsaid saw supporting means vWherebythe savv is moved transversely of thecrane and on the crane with the aid of said motor, means connected withsaid saw for opening the armature circuit of said motor whereby themovement of the saw transversely of the crane is terminated and acontact on said crane adapted to all times Without a engage the contactou said fixed part so that said armature circuit may again be closedwhen the crane returns to its initial position, and while the openingmeans operated by the -saw is open, whereby the armature circuit may beclosed so that the saw may be shifted in the opposite direction.

4. The combination With means for severing plaster-board, and means forcausing such severing means to travel both transversely of andlongitudinally with the plaster board, of a support through which thesevering means travels transversely, comprising independent,vinterlapping means for supporting different portions trans-f 'verselyof the plaster board, one of which supporting means moves With thesevering means.

5.In a machine of the class described, a saw, a carriage carrying saidsaw, means for supporting said carriage so that it m'ay move'bothtransversely and longitudinally, means -for moving said carriagelongitudinally in one direction, ml'eans for moving said carriagelongitudinallyiin the other direction, rollers adjacent said saw andcarlongitudinally ried by the carri-age supporting means and having aninterrupted space and not 'eX- tending acrossv sald carriage supportingmeans, and a, fixed table having rollers projecting into saidinterrupted portion, so that the plaster boari will be supported at argegap While being severed by the saw.

6. In a machine of the class described, a belt and means for supportingthe same so that said belt may always run continuously and moveplaster-board, a saw mounted for movement in the direction of saidplasterboard and simultaneously transversely thereof to sever saidplaster-board Without interrupting its movement, means for placingv saidsaw after it has severed a board so as to be ready for the next cut, atable adapted to receive the severed plaster-board with rollers carriedtherefrom, a saw carriage,

saw carriage supporting vmeans and rollers adjacent to said saw andcarried by said carriage supporting means so as to be, on each side ofthe rollers supported by the table.

Signed at the city, county and State of NewYork, this 2d day of August,1910.

IVID F. BERNHRDT.

lWitnesses:

GU'srAvii I. A RoNow, H. RADZINSKY.

